Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

AIC Kijabe Hospital has been ordered to pay a widow whose husband died in a botched brain surgery Ksh6 million. In her ruling, Justice Lucy Njuguna cited medical negligence that led to the lead surgeon removing part of Michael Mwangi’s brain instead of a tumour. The judge ruled that were it not for the medical team’s fatal mistake, Mwangi who died at the age of 37 years would still be alive and providing for his family. “The deceased was the breadwinner for the family and as a result of his death, the dependents have lost the support that they used…

A section of Kenyans has raised concerns over a move to transfer the body of the late Matungu Member of Parliament Justus Murunga from his rural Mumias home to Nairobi for preservation awaiting burial. In a video seen by this writer, a hearse is seen leaving St. Mary’s Hospital mortuary in Kakamega for Nairobi as grieving locals mourn the MP said to have succumbed to Covid-19 complications on Saturday. The driver of the hearse and people escorting the body donned Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). Reports indicate that the body will be preserved at Lee Funeral Home — a morgue associated…

Officials from the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) are now calling for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s intervention over failure by the Ministry of Health to address issues touching on healthcare workers’ welfare amid the Covid-19 menace. In a tweet on Sunday, KMPDU Acting Secretary General Dr Chibanzi Mwachonda said Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe and his Principal Secretary (PS) Susan Mochache had snubbed the medics for five months now after calls for a meeting to address work-related challenges. “Dear Mr President: The CS & PS at MoH have failed you in addressing the matters of Health care…

The government has blocked direct financing of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ahead of the 2022 General Election. Sources in the know claim that the move is aimed at curbing foreign influence in Kenyan elections. The government recently communicated the decision to the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) which has been managing the election funding. According to a source at the Foreign Affairs ministry, who spoke to Nation, the government told the donors that “if we need help, we will let you know”. The government sent the letter in response to a communication from one of the donors…

38 Form Four students at Kabarnet High School in Baringo County have tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19), County Commissioner Henry Wafula has confirmed. Wafula said that the students were among 48 who had their samples collected last week after one of their colleagues was confirmed to have contracted the disease. Kahawa Tungu understands that the results were received on Saturday. Those affected, the official said, have been isolated, and that teachers and non-teaching staff are being tested. “We have isolated the boys in one dormitory, we have tested teachers and non-teaching staff, and those who are yet…

Dr Gitonga Mbaka, the Uasin Gishu County Director of Education, who came to the limelight after an embarrassing dress down by Eduction Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has opened up about the incident. In his visit to Langas Primary School on Friday, November 6, the CS was caught on camera calling the official a fool after he tried to respond to his queries on why the school was untidy. In an interview with Nation, Dr Mbaka revealed that he and other government officials had accompanied the CS to the school for an inspection regarding the school’s Covid-19 preparedness and everything seemed…

The Kenyan medical fraternity is mourning the death of Emara Ashraf, a surgeon at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), who succumbed to Covid-19 on Friday morning. Kahawa Tungu understands that the plastic surgeon at the Eldoret-based hospital passed on at a Nakuru hospital where he was receiving treatment. Dr Ashraf joins a list of a number of health care workers who have lost the Covid-19 battle in the recent past. This week alone, the medical fraternity lost four senior specialists including Dr Vladimir Schuckin, Dr Hudson Inyangala and Dr Robert Ayisi. Reacting to Dr Ashraf’s death, in a tweet…

The Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) has opposed calls to amend the constitution to remove the clause on collective criminal responsibility that has seen several governors implicated in graft. Early this week, the county bosses issued a statement after a two-day retreat in Naivasha on what they want included in the recently unveiled Building Bridges Initiative (BBI). Wycliffe Oparanya, the chairman Council of Governors (CoG), said the principle of personal criminal culpability should take precedence. However, in a statement on Friday, EACC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Twalib Mbarak, strongly opposed the proposal saying such a law or regulation would give…

Veteran radio and TV presenter Leonard Mambo Mbotela is appealing to well-wishers to help him offset a medical bill amounting to Ksh1.1 million at the Nairobi South Hospital. In a letter seen by this writer dated November 12, the hospital’s Human Resource Manager, Stephen Mutavi, said Mbotela was admitted to the facility on October 29, 2020, and is recuperating well. “He is due for discharge Friday, November 13, 2020, as per the doctor’s recommendations to continue with homecare treatment,” said Mutavi. “The medical bills have accumulated to Ksh.1,105,498.78 as of today and have to be cleared upon discharge. Any assistance…

Tanzania’s opposition chief and former presidential candidate Tundu Lissu on Tuesday, November 10, fled the country in a huff with the help of German embassy after losing bid to unseat President John Pombe Magufuli in the October 28 General Election. Lissu had sought refuge at the embassy claiming his life was in danger without going into details. The Chadema party leader arrived in Belgium, Europe, on Wednesday morning and later had an interview with BBC explaining why he fled Tanzania amid an alleged crackdown on opposition leaders. Lissu told the British-owned TV that death threats forced him to flee his…

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday issued an Executive Order establishing an ultra-modern national mental health hospital to address the rising cases of mental illness in the country. In a State of the Nation address from Parliament in Nairobi, the Head of State said the institution will be named the East Africa Primer Mental Health facility. The centre, the President said, will offer training, research in psychiatry, specialist psychiatry treatment, child and adolescence mental wellness, drug abuse and addictive disorder treatment and rehabilitation services. “I shall be looking at this house (Parliament) to support the funding of this facility,” the President…

23 more people have succumbed to the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the last 24 hours, President Uhuru Kenyatta said on Thursday. In his State of the Nation address from Parliament in Nairobi, the Head of State said the Covid-19 death toll now stands at 1,203. The House observed a moment of silence in honour of the departed souls. At the same time, Kenya’s Covid-19 caseload has risen to 66,723 after 919 more people tested positive from a sample size of 6,135 tested in the last 24 hours. The cases are distribued in the counties is as follows: Nairobi 345,…

The High Court has temporarily halted the implementation of security measures on public gatherings issued by the National Security Advisory Committee on October 7, 2020. The stringent measures that detail the requirements for public gatherings, media reporting and social media conduct were ratified by Cabinet on October 8, 2020. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) moved to court to challenge the advisory by the Joseph Kinyua-led committee arguing that they are unlawful and breach the right to assemble. In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Anthony Mrima issued a conservatory order restraining the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai whether…

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Wednesday arrested a woman linked to a dubious business of importing cereals. Linda Nyamburi Odhiambo, the director of Clalinx Gen Supplies Ltd, was arrested by detectives attached to the Serious Crimes Unit (SCU) at the Riara Junction Apartment in Kiambu County. She is accused of defrauding traders more than Ksh10 million purporting to supply cotton seed cake, sunflower, soya beans, Pembe Millers’ flour and other foodstuffs. “She purported to import the foodstuff from Malawi and Tanzania. She never delivered the goods after pocketing upfront payments, ” the DCI said in a…

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe now says that a viral video of him casting doubt on the efficacy of an experimental Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech has been taken out of context. The CS had on the better part of Wednesday faced a backlash after he made the remarks when he appeared before the Senate’s Health Committee to give a status report on the fight against the pandemic. In a statement on Wednesday evening, Kagwe stated that his remarks were in line with doubts that have been publicly cast by global experts on the efficacy of the vaccine.…